The ORIGINAL gathering place for a merry band of Three Percenters. (As denounced by Bill Clinton on CNN!)

Sunday, July 19, 2009

"What will you do to me?" -- An Open Letter to Carson W. Carroll, Assistant Director, BATFE

Your paperwork is not in order. I've been sent to straighten you, I mean, it, out.

Well, folks, here I go again. David Codrea's Examiner column here (please click and read) cued me to this threatening letter sent by ATF AD Carroll to Tennessee FFL holders. His blatant disregard of the Tenth Amendment offended me and motivated me to write the following. Hope you like it.

I am in receipt of a copy of your "Open Letter to all Tennessee Federal Firearms Licensees," dated 16 July. (Found here: http://www.tfaonline.org/downloads/ATFfirearmsfreedomact.pdf)

I just have one question.

I am not an FFL holder. I never wanted to put myself at the mercy of your unconstitutional, bully-boy agency whose malfeasances, misfeasances, perjuries and deadly misadventures are legendary. I have observed first hand your agency's ability to cow FFL holders into not fighting you in court when you violate your own rules. Your agents often push the line of what constitutes statutory compliance with the threat that they will come back with a raid party if the FFL holder doesn't knuckle under. Having my business, my livelihood, my family's safety and my life at the whim of brutal thuggery such as exemplified by "Waco Jim" Cavanaugh at the time of the Trader's Gun Shop raid here in Birmingham, or Jody Keeku's railroading of David Olofson, never interested me.

Indeed, I never thought of becoming a firearms manufacturer before, but now that Tennessee has bravely followed Montana's lead in exercising their Tenth Amendment rights and you have doubled the incentive by issuing your plainly unconstitutional threat which is itself an offensive stench in the nostrils of all liberty-loving Americans, I wonder if you might answer this question:

If I move to Tennessee and open up a firearms manufactory (I like the name "Weapon Shop of Isher"), procuring all of my components from within the state and selling only to Tennessee residents as per the Tennessee statute, what are you going to do to ME? I am, after all not one of your tame FFL holders you are used to bullying about. You may threaten them as you like, I suppose, you are certainly used to it. And they have already made the fatal compromise when they bought into your tyrannical system. But what will you do to me?

Awaiting your reply with great anticipation.

Mike VanderboeghThe alleged leader of a merry band of Three PercentersPO Box 926Pinson, AL 35126GeorgeMason1776@aol.comsipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com

PS: Do make your answer in a timely fashion so I can begin lining up investors and hunting a suitable property in Tennessee to open up my new business.

Your comment has not been posted. We don't do threats around here, especially to agent's families who are, after all, innocents. If part of our criticism of this agency is that they can become, and have been, out-of-control baby killers, how can we morally justify resistance if we become baby-killers ourselves?

Good show, Mike! If we fight without honor, we become that which we despise. Non-combatants must be accorded safe passage until they pick up a weapon and demonstrate their intent to use it against you.

Also like the fact that you called the non-posted commentor out his spelling ability, or, in this case, his lack thereof.

If TN doesn't pussy out, and there is about a 99% chance they will, you really need to go up there and open up a shop. Weapons shop of Isher sounds like something out of Lord of the Rings! Then freedom loving people of from all around TN should join you in the battle against ATF Orks. Unfortunately the real fight right now is trying to get the state not to tuck tale and run. I'm sure they will and in the end all you'll get will be an "interagency" raid with "local heroes of law enforcement." The media will worship lick the boots of the "heroes of law enforcement" and make you out to be an absolute nutjob. People of TN and MT, stand up and FIGHT! Don't even show up in court.

Non-combatants must be accorded safe passage until they pick up a weapon and demonstrate their intent to use it against you.

Just a point, that's been the problem. The weapons these "non-combatants" use are not the common tools we use. Theirs are pens, indoctrination, lies, stealth, complacent watchdogs, bribes, distraction, and terror.

Those things have brought us to where were currently find ourselves, firmly between a jackboot and a hard place.

Another thing, while innocents should probably be left alone, it can just form a feedback loop as resentment and hatred that get handed down. Look to the south's feelings towards the fedgov after their last trouncing of the constitution.

All those "innocent" people will not "go to canada" as they promised for 8 years, nor will they forgive you for fighting for your rights. They will bitterly cling. As Adams said, "It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds." That sword can cut both ways.

I'm with you on principle because idealistically leaving the innocent unharmed separates you from the monsters we fight, but I feel you may guaranteeing a bloody repeat of history, inviting coups against a government that has finally been restored to its place.

I'm writing this only for you to think about. I may not be right, maybe I am. I honestly don't know. I just want to know, or at least prepare for, the new hells that may be beyond the goals of returning to limited constitutional government in such a manner.

"What will you do to me?"That's been established, break the doors, shoot the dogs, stomp the kittens, roust the Mrs. out in her night gown, and rough you up if you're lucky, shoot the whole family if not, and burn the place to the ground.

Wow, The Weapon of Isher. I dug up my battered copy.FINE WEAPONSTHE RIGHT TO BUYWEAPONS IS THERIGHT TO BE FREEThe window display was made up of an assortment of rather curiously shaped guns,rifles,as well as small arms, and a glowing sign in the window stated:THE FINEST ENERGYWEAPONS IN THEKNOWN UNIVERSEInspector Clayton of the Investigation Branch attempted to enter the shop but the door seemed to be locked. A few moments later,CJ McAllister, reporter of the Gazette Bulletin, tried the door, found that it opened, and entered. Inspector Clayton attempted to follow him, but discovered that the door was again locked.

Mike I'm a Tn. Resident and have been kicking around this same idea for a few weeks, personally I'd love to be on the ground floor of this sort of thing but I'd like some sort of assurance that the State will actually stand behind any one who ventures into this uncharted territory. And by stand behind I mean send a "State of Tn. Hwy Patrol SWAT team" to block any illegal interventions by any Federal Agency's.

Surely the state of TN did some thinking about the consequences of this legislation when they drafted it. I think I would attempt the contact the state legislator whose brainchild this was, and attempt to guage the depth of support the state government has (or has not) for any FFL attempting to try this out!

We will see soon enough how the states intend to handle this. Personally, I am fearful that they will chose to fight their battles only court, as the seemingly civil, and legal way to handle such conflicts. This is foolish.

I do hope that you receive a swift reply to your legitimate question from our friends at the Bureau, and repost it to hear exactly how they intend to ignore the law, and in what capacity.

Also, thank you for reminding me of the author, as ive been looking for the original short story i read, for years, but never seemed to be able to locate it, as the title was so generic, and i did not realize that there was an entire novel that came from it. The best piece of science fiction ive ever read, and one of my favorite short stories, I will be looking for the novel in short order.

I fear that the TN law is vacuous. Unless the iron ore is mined, smelted and forged within TN, the feds will cry inter-state commerce. Other materials used in modern firearms such as cromium, molybdimum, plastics, etc. would have to be created within the borders. I do applaud both TN and MT though.

"Non-combatants must be accorded safe passage until they pick up a weapon and demonstrate their intent to use it against you."

Absolutely. Innocent until proven guilty.

"The weapons these "non-combatants" use are not the common tools we use. Theirs are pens, indoctrination, lies, stealth, complacent watchdogs, bribes, distraction, and terror."

Ok. And? These weapons leave evidence trails, and "follow the money" and "who knew what when" are evidence-based approaches, correct? So there should be no problem proving the use of these weapons in open court.

""Non-combatants must be accorded safe passage until they pick up a weapon and demonstrate their intent to use it against you."

Absolutely. Innocent until proven guilty.

"The weapons these "non-combatants" use are not the common tools we use. Theirs are pens, indoctrination, lies, stealth, complacent watchdogs, bribes, distraction, and terror."

Ok. And? These weapons leave evidence trails, and "follow the money" and "who knew what when" are evidence-based approaches, correct? So there should be no problem proving the use of these weapons in open court."

And who says that quislings and traitors will ever make it to a court trial? Yes, it sounds harsh, but if there is an all-out war of attrition, who will have the time or can afford to expend the energy or can wait for a court trial? Just something to be considered and thought about for the future (which future I hope never comes).

"Yes, it sounds harsh, but if there is an all-out war of attrition, who will have the time or can afford to expend the energy or can wait for a court trial?"

If you descend to infringing peoples' rights with torture, horrible jails, censorship, tariffs, conscription, lack of due process, burning cities, or taxes, then you're just as bad as who you're opposing. You avoid these things because, at the moment of doing them, you lose.

You lose unless your goal is merely to take over the top dog spot yourself, and become the new ruling elite. In the case, you should trumpet how your new "constitutional" government won't repeat the mistakes of the last tyrant. Then show you mean business by banning accurate criticism of your regime, and have your winning general crush a tax rebellion with a huge army. When you capture the ringleaders, arbitrarily kill some in jail, execute some, and pardon others to demonstrate your will is the law.

My Blog List

Advice on child rearing from my son.

Everyone should grow up with simulated equipment from a heavy weapons platoon. It gives you a more well rounded education and an appreciation for the finer things in life. -- Sergeant Matthew Vanderboegh, United States Army.

"Progress made under the shadow of the policeman's club is false progress."

I believe that liberty is the only genuinely valuable thing that men have invented, at least in the field of government, in a thousand years. I believe that it is better to be free than to be not free, even when the former is dangerous and the latter safe. I believe that the finest qualities of man can flourish only in free air – that progress made under the shadow of the policeman's club is false progress, and of no permanent value. I believe that any man who takes the liberty of another into his keeping is bound to become a tyrant, and that any man who yields up his liberty, in however slight the measure, is bound to become a slave. -- H.L. Mencken

On the efficacy of passive resistance in the face of the collectivist beast. . .

Had the Japanese got as far as India, Gandhi's theories of "passive resistance" would have floated down the Ganges River with his bayoneted, beheaded carcass. -- Mike Vanderboegh.

In the future . . .

When the histories are written, “National Rifle Association” will be cross-referenced with “Judenrat.” -- Mike Vanderboegh to Sebastian at "Snowflakes in Hell"

"Smash the bloody mirror."

If you find yourself through the looking glass, where the verities of the world you knew and loved no longer apply, there is only one thing to do. Knock the Red Queen on her ass, turn around, and smash the bloody mirror. -- Mike Vanderboegh

From Kurt Hoffman over at Armed and Safe.

"I believe that being despised by the despicable is as good as being admired by the admirable."

From long experience myself, I can only say, "You betcha."

"Only cowards dare cringe."

The fears of man are many. He fears the shadow of death and the closed doors of the future. He is afraid for his friends and for his sons and of the specter of tomorrow. All his life's journey he walks in the lonely corridors of his controlled fears, if he is a man. For only fools will strut, and only cowards dare cringe. -- James Warner Bellah, "Spanish Man's Grave" in Reveille, Curtis Publishing, 1947.

"We fight an enemy that never sleeps."

"As our enemies work bit by bit to deconstruct, we must work bit by bit to REconstruct. Be mindful where we should be. Set goals. We fight an enemy that never sleeps. We must learn to sleep less." -- Mike H. at What McAuliffe Said

"The Fate of Unborn Millions. . ."

"The time is now near at hand which must probably determine, whether Americans are to be, Freemen, or Slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own; whether their Houses, and Farms, are to be pillaged and destroyed, and they consigned to a State of Wretchedness from which no human efforts will probably deliver them. The fate of unborn Millions will now depend, under God, on the Courage and Conduct of this army-Our cruel and unrelenting Enemy leaves us no choice but a brave resistance, or the most abject submission; that is all we can expect-We have therefore to resolve to conquer or die." -- George Washington to his troops before the Battle of Long Island.

"We will not go gently . . ."

This is no small thing, to restore a republic after it has fallen into corruption. I have studied history for years and I cannot recall it ever happening. It may be that our task is impossible. Yet, if we do not try then how will we know it can't be done? And if we do not try, it most certainly won't be done. The Founders' Republic, and the larger war for western civilization, will be lost.

But I tell you this: We will not go gently into that bloody collectivist good night. Indeed, we will make with our defiance such a sound as ALL history from that day forward will be forced to note, even if they despise us in the writing of it.

And when we are gone, the scattered, free survivors hiding in the ruins of our once-great republic will sing of our deeds in forbidden songs, tending the flickering flame of individual liberty until it bursts forth again, as it must, generations later. We will live forever, like the Spartans at Thermopylae, in sacred memory.

-- Mike Vanderboegh, The Lessons of Mumbai:Death Cults, the "Socialism of Imbeciles" and Refusing to Submit, 1 December 2008

"A common language of resistance . . ."

"Colonial rebellions throughout the modern world have been acts of shared political imagination. Unless unhappy people develop the capacity to trust other unhappy people, protest remains a local affair easily silenced by traditional authority. Usually, however, a moment arrives when large numbers of men and women realize for the first time that they enjoy the support of strangers, ordinary people much like themselves who happen to live in distant places and whom under normal circumstances they would never meet. It is an intoxicating discovery. A common language of resistance suddenly opens to those who are most vulnerable to painful retribution the possibility of creating a new community. As the conviction of solidarity grows, parochial issues and aspirations merge imperceptibly with a compelling national agenda which only a short time before may have been the dream of only a few. For many Americans colonists this moment occurred late in the spring of 1774." -- T.H. Breen, The Marketplace of Revolution: How Consumer Politics Shaped American Independence, Oxford University Press, 2004, p.1.